Jeff Vaughn
Highly-regarded music executive Jeff Vaughn has been appointed President of Capitol Records, the flagship label of Capitol Music Group (CMG), it was announced today by CMG Chairman & CEO Steve Barnett, to whom Vaughn will report. In his newly-created Capitol Records presidency, Vaughn will draw upon his extensive A&R background and strong executive skills to build upon the company’s 78-year legacy as one of music’s most storied labels, as well as further CMG’s resurgent success that began early in this decade under Barnett’s leadership. He will also work closely with Barnett and members of his executive management team. Vaughn will assume his new position on January 1, 2020 and will be based in Hollywood at CMG’s iconic Capitol Tower.
According to Barnett, “I’m thrilled that Jeff is joining our team as President of Capitol Records. He has forged strong relationships within the artist community and has proven time and time again that he knows how to work with talent to create hit records that impact our culture in a big way. He is a tremendous addition to our CMG team and I know that everyone in the company joins me in welcoming Jeff to the Tower.“
Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, said, “We’re so pleased to welcome Jeff Vaughn to the Capitol Tower and the UMG family. With Jeff’s strong A&R track record, he has a unique opportunity to build upon Capitol’s reinvigoration that we’ve seen over the past several years.”
Vaughn commented, “I want to thank Steve and Lucian for giving me the opportunity to shape the future of such an iconic label. As an A&R executive, I am driven by an intense devotion to artists and songs that defy expectation and challenge us to think differently. I could not be more excited to champion this perspective in my new role at Capitol.”
Prior to being named Capitol Records President, Vaughn was Vice President of A&R at the Los Angeles-based Artist Partner Group (APG)—a fully integrated and supported arm of Warner Music Group’s Atlantic Records—and Artist Publishing Group, having joined the multi-faceted company at its founding in 2013.
During his enormously successful tenure there, Vaughn signed and/or worked closely with a host of artists that have collectively amassed dozens of RIAA platinum and gold certifications, including breakout streaming phenom Youngboy Never Broke Again, whose most recent project, AI Youngboy 2, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in October selling 110,000 equivalent album units. Youngboy’s 2018 debut album Until Death Call My Name, is certified platinum and just one in a string of multi-platinum and gold-plus projects and singles from the artist.
Vaughn also signed and developed global R&B superstar and three-time Grammy nominee Kehlani, whose debut album, SweetSexySavage, is approaching platinum status, and who’s latest single, “Nights Like This” feat. Ty Dolla Sign, has also been certified platinum. He also A&R’d veteran hip-hop star Kevin Gates, whose’ latest album, I’m Him, debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 in September and was his fourth project to hit the Top Ten.
Recently, Vaughn worked with Warner Records to land red-hot hip hop up-and-comer NLE Choppa, whose signing pursuit was one of the most competitive of 2019. Choppa’s breakthrough single, “Shotta Flow,” has been certified platinum and his latest single “Camelot” is on its way to a platinum certification.
Vaughn was also responsible for signing and developing multi-platinum rap artist Lil Skies, critically acclaimed rap-punk rocker Rico Nasty, and buzzing Travis Scott affiliate Don Toliver. He was instrumental in the signing of multi-platinum artist Young Thug, whose latest album, So Much Fun, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in August selling 131,000 equivalent album units. He was credited with co-A&Ring the gold-certified soundtrack to the eighth installment in the phenomenally successful Fast and Furious film franchise, The Fate Of The Furious: The Album.
Jeff Vaughn began his career in the mailroom at talent agency UTA.
